Flashlight



G. F. WILKINSON FLASHLIGHT Filed sept. 4, 1945 Feb. 25, 1947.

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Patented Feb. 25,l 1947 UNITED. STATES I PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT George F. Wilkinson, Warren Point, N. J.

Application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,366

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to flashlights, and more particularly to a flashlight having means for regulating the intensity of ythe light beam thereof.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved flashlight having means incorporated therein for readily controlling the energization of the flashlight, said means including a control device for regulating the intensity of the ilashlight beam.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved flashlight structure of simple design wherein a manually controlled rheostat is provided in series with the lamp circuit for controlling the amount of energizing current in said circuit, said rheostat being combined with switch means for turning the flashlight on and oil.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a flashlight constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view of a portion of the rheostat housing employed in the flashlight of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the rheostat slider member and its relationship to the other rheostat elements as employed in the structure of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, I I designates the flashlight housing, which may be of metal, plastic, or other suitable material. Said housing is adapted to contain a plurality of conventional flashlight battery cells. Secured to the side portion of housing I I is a metal trough shaped member I2 forming an auxiliary housing I3. Mounted in auxiliary housing I3 is a resistance element I4 comprising a coil of resistance wire wound on an elongated fibre core strip I5, said resistance coil being connected at one end thereof to a rivet I6 which extends .through an insulating bushing I1 into housing II and engages an elongated metal conductor strip I8 at an intermediate point thereof. One end of strip I8 is connected to the shell of the lamp socket and the other end thereof is connected to a rivet I9 which secures the end of strip I8 in position within housing I I and which has a head portion located on the top surface of fibre strip I longitudinally spaced from the free end of resistance element I4. An additional conductor strip 2D is provided in housing II, one end of which is secured by a rivet 2l in electrical connecting relation to auxiliary housing element of the series of flashlight batteries.

Housing member I2 is formed with a longitudinal slot 2'2 in which is slidably mounted a slider member 23 having a button portion 24, a neck portion 25 adapted to t slot 22, an enlarged portion 26 and a depending leaf spring contractor portion 2l bearing on strip I5 and adapted to contact the resistance element I4 when the slider member 123 is moved forwardly in its slot. Slot 22 extends forwardly to the forward end of resistance element I4 and rearwardly to a point adjacent to rivet I9 so that slider member 23 may be moved either forwardly for the full length of resistance element I4 or rearwardly into contact with rivet I9. Slot 22 is formed with an enlarged portion 28 intermediate the free end of resistance element I4 and rivet I9, said enlarged portion being adapted to receive portion 26 of slider member 23 to lock said slider member in open-circuit position, as shown in Figure 3.

In operation, button 'member 24 is pressed inwardly to release portion 26 from recess 28 and the slider member is moved either forwardly into contact with resistance element I4 or rearwardly into contact with rivet member I9. In the rearward position of the slider member, the ashlight lamp will be energized at full brilliancy. In the forward position, the brilliancy of the lamp will be reduced in accordance with the amount of resistance element I4 which is present in the lamp circuit. In this manner the intensity of the beam may be regulated over a wide range of brilliancy.

While a specific embodiment of a controlled brilliancy flashlight has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a flashlight battery casing. the combination, which comprises an elongated button housing having a slot with an enlargement therein extending lengthwise of said housing spaced from the casing and parallel thereto, posts mounting said button housing on said casing, a contact extending from one of said posts to an end of the casing providing conducting means from the end of the casing to the button housing, a button slidable in the slot of the housing having a shoulder adapted to snap into the enlargement of said slot ton at the extreme ends of said slot, and a rheostat, p winding on said insulating bar with one end thereof connected to one of said posts andwith v the other end spaced from the other of said posts,A 15 312,670

amuse said rheostat winding positioned to be contacted by the brush of said button.

GEORGE F. W'ILIQNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

^ i UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l 1,292,403 Christian Jan. 21, 1919 v 1,660,979 Thayer Feb. 28, 1928 1,634,475 Wappler July 5, 1927 Olds Mar, 2, 1943 

